Grip joint and catch for jewelry clasps



April 1969 B. SHTEINSHLEIFER 3,440,695

GRIP JOINT AND CATCH FOR JEWELRY CLASPS Filed Feb. 15, 1968 UnitedStates Patent 3,440,695 GRIP JOINT AND CATCH FOR JEWELRY CLASPS BorisShteinshleifer, 40 Elizabeth St., New York, N.Y. 10013 Filed Feb. 15,1968, Ser. No. 705,671 Int. Cl. A44b 9/18 US. Cl. 24160 3 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved grip joint catch for jewelry pinsor brooches including a pivotally mounted pin stem having resilientmeans carried by a bracket supporting a pin for pivotal movement, toretain the same in predetermined position, and secondary resilient meansassociated with a catch to retain the free end of the pin in the sameposition, whereby upon disengagement of said last mentioned means, thepin will be held by the first mentioned means. Means is provided forcompletely shielding the free end of the pin while the jewelry is worn.

This invention relates generally to the field of jewelry findings, andmore particularly to an improved grip joint and catch adapted to preventaccidental loss of a piece of jewelry.

It is known in the art to provide mounting means for such jewelryincluding a pivotally mounted pin, the free end of which is disposedbeneath a catch means, in most cases the resiliency of the pin itselfserving to retain the free end of the pin in engagement with the catch.However, because the pin itself is normally formed from soft material,the resiliency of the same is limited, and accidental disengagement ofthe pin from the catch can occur, with a resultant loss of the articleof jewelry with which it is associated. To minimize this possibility,various types of catches have been produced which include moving partsto more positively retain the free end of the pin. However, because theyare manually operable, they are also subject to being accidentallyopened, and in such case, there is not even present the normal resilientaction of the pin to maintain itself in association with the catch.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention toprovide an improved construction of the class described in whichseparate means is provided in the area of the pivotal mounting of thepin for resiliently and positively maintaining the pin in predeterminedorientation, irrespective of whether the catch means is in open orclosed position.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved gripjoint and catch means which may be incorporated into existing articlesof jewelry without extensive modification.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedgrip joint and catch of the class described in which the cost offabrication thereof may be of a reason-ably low order, with consequentwide sale, distribution and use.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedgrip joint and catch which may be conveniently manipulated by thosepossessing ordinary skill.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedgrip joint and catch construction in which the catch element cannot beopened by merely pulling on the pin in a direction perpendicular to theprincipal axis thereof.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, willmore fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and bepointed out in the appended claims.

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In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 33 inFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation corresponding to the righthand portion of FIGURE 1, but showing the clasp element in openedcondition, as seen from the upper portion of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 inFIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective of a resilient pin retaining memberforming a part of the disclosed embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of anintegrated pair of trunnions, including means for facilitating thesoldering thereof to an article of jewelry.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10 is illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2 in mountedcondition upon the body 11 of an article of jewelry, and includes a pinjoint element 12 and a catch element 13.

The pin joint element 12 includes first and second trunnions 15 and 16,respectively each including a mounting base 17 and an upper portion 18defining an aligned opening 19 for the mounting of a shaft 20. Aresistance member 21 (FIGURE 6) is maintained in the position shown inFIGURE 1 by the pin 20, and includes a pair of ears 22 and 23 havingaligned openings 24 for this purpose. Each ear 2223 forms a resilienttongue at 2526 having camming surfaces 27 leading to normally contactingterminals 28. Rectilinear lower edges 29 of the ears 22-23 preventrelative movement of the member 21 with respect to the trunnions 1516.

A pin member 30 includes a first end 31 forming an eye surrounding theshaft 20 and a second pointed end 32 which engages the catch element 13.

The catch element 13 includes a pair of trunnions 38 and 39, eachdefining a central opening 40 for the mounting of a shaft 41 whichmounts a pivotally arranged locking member 42. The locking member 42includes a pair of ears 43-44 defining aligned orifices 45 engaging theshaft 41 for pivotal movement. The ears 43-44 are interconnected by anupper member 46 disposed therebetween, and forming resilient portions4748 (see FIGURE 3) and a trigger 49. As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5,it will be observed that the tip 50 of the pin member 30 extends beyondthe axis of the shaft 41, so that outward movement imparted to the pinmember tends to close the clasp member rather than open it.

The operation of the device will be understood from a consideration ofFIGURES 1, 2 and 5. Upon engagement of the pin member 30, the same ismoved from the position shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 2 to theposition shown in full lines. In so doing, the resilient tongues 2526are spread apart to permit passage of the pin therebetween, and afterpassing, the terminals 28 again contact each other to maintain the pinmember 30 in predetermined position substantially parallel to the planeof the body 11. This movement will normally be accomplished while thecatch element 13 is in the position shown in FIGURE 5, and when the pinhas reached the position shown in that figure, the upper member 46 ismoved counterclockwise to the position shown in FIGURE 3, wherein theresilient portions 4748 are spread apart a distance sufficient to passthe pin member and engage the same.

Opening of the catch element 13 is facilitated by the provision of thetrigger 60, but should the trigger be accidently moved, even to anextent in which the resilient portions 47-48 are dislodged with respectto the free end of the pin member 30, the pin member will neverthelesstend to remain in the position shown in FIGURE 5, owing to the presenceof the tongues 25 and 26, the terminals of which overlie the pin membera distance from the shaft 20. Thus, when discovered, the catch may beagain closed, the pin member 30 at all times remaining in some degree ofengagement with the catch element 13.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the base portion 17 of the trunnions 15 and 16are interconnected by a. transversely extending planar member, the lowersurface 51 of which is provided with a small recess 52. The trunnions 38and 39 are similarly interconnected by means not shown. The recess 52 issufiiciently small as to attract solder by capillary action, and duringthe manufacture thereof, it is possible to facilitate the subsequentsoldering of the device to the body 11 by allowing molten solder (notshown) to rest Within the recess. When the soldering operation issubsequently performed, it is only necessary to coat the appropriateareas of the body 11 with a flux, and heat transmitted to the memberwill cause the solder disposed in the recess 52 to melt and subsequentlyadhere to the body 11.

I claim:

1. Improved combination grip joint and catch construction for jewelryclasps and similar articles comprising: a pin joint element and a catchelement cooperating therewith; said pin joint element including a pairof trunnion members supporting a shaft therebetween, pivotally mountedpin means carried by said shaft, a resilient member including a pair ofspreadable resilient portions, and means engaging said shaft formounting said portions within the path of movement of said pin means tobe spread away from each other upon passage of said pin meanstherebetween, whereby said pin means may be selectively resilientlymaintained in a predetermined plane.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said catch element including apivotally mounted locking member including a pair of spreadableresilient portions adapted to engage the free end of said pin means, assaid pin means is positioned in said predetermined plane.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said trunnion members beinginterconnected by a planar member, said planar member having a recess inan outer surface thereof for the retention of a quantity of solder bycapillary action.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 726,983 5/1903 Pejchar 24-1571,126,488 1/1915 Koski et al 24l60 1,559,480 10/1925 Veillette 24-1572,346,767 4/1944 La Paglia 24157 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,108 2/1892 Germany.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 24157

